Sewing-machine.



CLARK.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 2. 1915.

C. F.,& A. S.

PatentedSept. 12, 1916.

2 $HEETS-SHEET I.

m: mmms PETERS cmJuom-uma" WASHING mu. 0. c.

C. F. & A. S. CLARK. SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR- 2, I915,

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTNTT .a'rns CHARLES E. CLARK AND ALFRED S. CLARK, OF BEVERLY,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO THE REECE BUTTON HOLE MACHINE COMPANY, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SEWING-MACHINE.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLns F. CLARK and ALFRED S. CLARK, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Beverly, county of Essex, Stateoflvlassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Sewing-Machines, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representinglike parts.

This invention relates to sewing machines and has for its object toprovide a novel sewing machine in which the stitch-forminginstrumentalities are mounted for bodily movement as a unitary structurerelative to the work support.

The invention is capable of being embodied in sewing machines of varioustypes and in order to give an understanding of the invention we haveherein illustrated it as it might be embodied in a sewing machine of theblind stitch type wherein the blind stitches are formed by making a bendin the work and then thrusting the needle through the bent portion ofthe work. lVe desire to reiterate, however, that the invention is notlimited in its use to blind stitch sewing machines but is capable ofapplica.- tion to various other types of sewing machines.

The machine herein illustrated is constructed so that the needle willpenetrate the bent portion of the work at alternate thrusts thereof withthe result that one stitch will be formed in the work and the nextstitch will be formed to overlie the underside of the work. In thepresent embodiment of our invention we secure this end by moving thestitch-forming instrumentalities as a unitary structure toward and fromthe groove into which the work is bent and in timed relation with theoperation of the needle, the bodily movement of the stitchforminginstrumentalities operating to place the needle during one penetratingthrust thereof in a position to penetrate the work and to place saidneedle during the next thrust in a position to pass beneath the work, itbeing understood that the needle thread is interlooped with the shuttlethread at each thrust of the needle.

In the present embodiment of our inven tion the work is acted oncontinuously by a bender as it is fed over the groove, and the benderthus makes a continuous bend in the work. The work, therefore, isstationary except for the feeding movement, and the needle is caused topass through the work or beneath it by the bodily movements of thestitch-forming instrumentalities.

In the selected embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, Figure 1shows a sewing machine embodyingour invention in plan view with all ofthe work support removed except that portion containing the bendinggroove; Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. 1 and 2-2, Fig. 3; Fig.3 is a section on the lines 33, Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is an end view ofthe machine; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the stitch-forminginstrumentalities and the movable carrier in which they are sustained;Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on the line 66, Fig. 1.

We have chosen herein to illustrate our invention as embodied in amachine of that type having a work support 1 provided with a bendinggroove 2 into which the material 3 to be, operated on is bent, andstitch-forming instrumentalities comprising a needle a operating beneaththe work support and a shuttle 5 cooperating with the needle to producethe stitches. Machines of this type are used for various purposes amongwhich may bementioned the finishing of buttonholes, machines for thislatter purpose being known to the trade as buttonholefinishing machines.

In the present invention the stitch-forming instrumentalities comprisingthe needle 4: and shuttle 5 and their operating parts are sustained on aframe or carrier which has a movement relative to the bending groove 2and in timed relationtothe operation of the stitch-forming mechanism.

The variousparts of the sewing machine are herein shown as supported bya bed frame 6 which may have any suitable construction, but is hereinshown as in the form ofa box-like casing provided with a cover 7 whichwith the part containing the bending groove constitutes the worksupport 1. This cover 7 is shown as pivotally connected to the bed-frame6 at 91 so that it can be swung back out of the way to give access tothe operative parts.

The bending groove 2 is formed in a block or plate 8 which is fixedlysecured to the bed-frame 6, it being herein shown as sustained on postsor supports 9 rising from the bed-frame, although it might be sustainedand held in position by any suitable means without departing from theinvention. This block 8 having the bending groove 2 formed therein isstationary. The work 3 is bent into the groove by means of a bender 10which simply rides on the work 3 as the latter is fed through thebending groove and holds the work in bent position shown in Fig. 6. Thisbender 10 may have any suitable construction. We prefer, however, toconstruct it in the form of a roll or wheel which is rotatably mountedupon an arm 11 secured to a post 12. This post 12 is slidably sustainedin suitable bearings 13 and 14, and said post is acted upon by a spring15 which yieldingly holds the bender against the work. This spring isshown as encircling the post and as confined between the bearing 13 anda collar 16 on the post. The post 12 also carries an adjustable collar17 thereon which coiiperates with the bearing 14 to limit the extent ofdownward movement of the bender 10. The bender can be raised out ofengagement with the work when the latter is to be introduced into themachine or removed therefrom by means of a rock-shaft 18 journaled inthe bed-frame 6 and carrying an arm 19 adapted to engage the lower endof the post. This rock-shaft can be operated in any suitable way. Thedevice herein shown for this purpose is a handle 20 which is secured tothe end of the rock-shaft and is accessible to the operator and isprovided with a projection 21 adapted to engage in a notch formed in aresilient retainer 22 which operates to hold the shaft 18 in theposition it occupies when the bender is raised.

The work 3 is fed through the bender groove2 bya feed dog 23cofiperating with the bender 10. This dog 23 operates in a slot 24formed in the bottom of the groove 2 and is carried by a lever 25pivoted at 26 to an arm 27 carried by an oscillatory rockshaft 28, theoscillations of the rock-shaft 28 thus serving to give a longitudinal orreciprocatory feeding movement to the dog 23. Said dog is also given avertical movement to bring it into feeding contact with the work andthen withdraw it from the work after the feeding movement. This verticalmovement is secured from a rockshaft 29 suitably journaled in the frameand having fast thereto a bifurcated arm 30 between the parts of whichthe end of the lever 25 operates. This arm carries a pin 31 operating inaslot 32 formed in the lever 25; The oscillatory movement of the rock:shaft 29 will thus give a vertical movement to the feed dog, and theoscillation of the shaft, 28 willgive the backward and forwardvmovementthereto.

The rock shafts 28 and 29 receive'their motion from a drive shaft 33which is operated by any suitable means, such as a drive pulley 34. Thedesired motion is communicated from the drive shaft 33 to the rockshaft28 by means of a cam or eccentric 34 operating between the forked end ofa lever 35 which is carried by a rock shaft 36 journaled in suitablebearings 37. This lever 35 is connected by a link 38 with an arm 39 faston the rock-shaft 28. The connection between the link 38 and the lever35 is preferably an adjustable one to provide for giving the rock-shaft28 a greater or less movement. For this purpose the arm 35 is slotted,as shown best in Fig. 4, and the end of the link 38 is adjustable insaid slot.

The rock-shaft 29 is operated from the drive shaft through a cam oreccentric 40 operating in the forked end of an arm 41 which is fast onthe shaft 29.

The needle 4 is mounted in a needle bar 41 which reciprocates insuitable guideways or bearings 42 which are arranged so that the needlemoves in a path transversely t0 the length of the groove 2, the bottomof the latter being provided with a notch or opening 92 in which theneedle operates. As stated above, the needle and its needle bar,together with the shuttle 5 and its operating mechanism, are sustainedby a frame or carrier which is constructed to have a movement relativeto the work support, and in the present embodiment of our invention thisframe or carrier is mounted to move vertically toward and from the worksup port, and the movement is in such timed relation to the operation ofthe stitch-forming instrumen'talities that on alternate thrusts of theneedle the'latter will pass through the work, as shown in dotted lines,Fig. 6, and on the other thrusts it will pass beneath the work, as shownin full lines Fig. 6. The movable frame in which the needle bar andshuttle are mounted is shown at 45 and it may have any suitableconstruction adapted to sustain these parts. The bearings 42 for theneedle bar are carried by this frame. This frame or carrier may bemounted for vertical movement toward and from the bending groove in anyappropriate way. One convenient construction is that herein illustratedwherein the carrier is mounted on a rock-shaft 46 -which is j ournaledin bearings 47 formed on the bedframe 6 of the machine so that saidcarrier may have a vibratory movement about the rock-shaft as itscenter.

The carrier 45 is given its vibratory movement from the main shaft 33and for this purpose we have shown said carrier as connected by a link50 with one arm of an elbow in a bearing 54, said arm carrying a shoe 55operating in a switch cross-over cam member 56 carried by the shaft 33.This construction gives a two-to-one movement, that is, the arm 52 willbe moved in one direction during one rotation of the shaft 33 and in theother direction during the next rotation of the shaft 33. This resultsin elevating the carrier 45 during alternate rotations of the shaft 33and depressing said carrier during the other rotations. This doublecross-over switch cam 56 is of familiar con struction and operates togive a comparatively quick movement to the arm 52 while the shaft ismaking a partial rotation and then to hold said arm in fixed positionduring the remainder of the rotation.

The connection between the link 51 and the arm 52 is adjustable toprovide for giving the carrier 45 a greater or less movement. Thisadjustment is provided for by the T-slot 57 formed in the arm 52 inwhich operates the clamping bolt 58 that connects the link to the arm.

The needle bar is given its reciprocating movement from the main shaft33 by means which are not afiected by the vertical movement of thecarrier 45. As herein shown, the needle bar is pivotally connected by alink 60 to an arm 61 fast on a rock-shaft 62, said rock-shaft havinganother arm 63 thereon which is pivoted to a yoke-shaped follower 64that embraces a cam or eccentric 65 fast on the shaft 33.

The shuttle 5 may be of any suitable construction. We have herein showna rotary shuttle which is operated from a shaft 66 journaled in thecarrier 45. This shuttle is rotated from the shaft 33 by means which arenot affected by the vertical movement of the carrier. While any meansfor driving the shuttle may be employed, we have shown herein for thispurpose a shaft section 67 journaled in bearings in the carrier 45 andgeared to the shuttle shaft 66 by bevel gearing 68, said shaft section67 being connected to the main driving shaft 33 by a connection 70having one or more universal joints 71 therein. This makes a flexibledriving connection between the shaft 33 and the shaft 67 which is notaffected by the vertical movements of the carrier 45.

From the above it will be seen that the stitch-forming instrumentalitiescomprising the needle and the shuttle with their operating parts arecarried by a frame or carrier which has a bodily movement relative tothe work support so that the stitch-forming instrumentalities as aunitary structure move toward and from the work support in timedrelation with the operation of the needle and shuttle. This we regard asan important feature of our invention because it provides a machine inwhich the needle and shuttle are always maintained in the properoperative positions relative to each other and yet permits the needle topass into the work 3 on alternate thrusts and below the work on theother thrusts. This construction also has the advantage that as thematerial is fed through the machine the bend which is formed thereinwill be a continuous bend as distinguished from the operation of thosemachines wherein the bender has a vibratory movement that intermittentlybends the work.

Another feature of our invention resides in the fact that the bendingmember 10 acts also as a presser foot to cotiperate with the feeding dog23 to feed the work so that this element 10 is in fact a combinedpresserfoot and bender. As stated above, it is not necessary that thiscombined presser-foot and bender be in the form of a roll, as any shapeor construction which would accom plish the desired result may beemployed. We prefer the roll form, however, because its rolling contactwith the work facilitates the feeding movement.

We have shown at 77 a needle support which comes into position tosustain the needle as the latter is making its penetrating thrust. Thisneedle support is shown as carried by a holder 78 that is slidablymounted in a guideway in the carrier 45 and is acted upon by a cam 79fast on the shaft 67. This cam is so timed that the needle support israised into operative position as shown in Fig. 5 as the needleapproaches the work so that the needle will be supported thereby as itenters the work,

said needle support dropping away from the needle in time to prevent thethread passing through the eye of the needle from being cut by itsengagement with the support.

80 designates a thread tension device of ordinary construction and 81 isa take-up lever through which the thread 25 passes from the tensiondevice to the needle bar. This take-up lever is pivoted at 82 and isactuated by means of a cam 83 on the main shaft.

While in order to give an understanding of our invention, it has beennecessary to illustrate and describe one embodiment thereof, yet we wishto state that the invention is not limited to the construction hereinshown as this principle of arranging the stitch-forminginstrumentalities so that they will have a bodily movement as a unitarystructure relative to the work-support, may be applied to sewingmachines of other types than that illustrated, and as we be lieve we arethe first to embody this principle in a sewing machine, we desire toclaim it broadly.

We claim:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination work support in timed relationwith the operation thereof.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bending groove, of means to feed work through said groove,stitch-forming instrumentalities comprising a needle and a shuttle, acarrier in which said needle and shuttle are sustained, means to operatethe parts, and means to raise and lower the carrier in timed relation tothe operation of the needle.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bending groove, of means to feed work through said groove,stitch-forming instrumentalities comprising a needle and a shuttle, aframe on which said needle and shuttle are mounted, means to vibrate theframe toward and from the groove, a driving shaft, and means foroperating both the shuttle and the needle from said shaft.

4:. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bend ing groove, of a bender element located in the groove, meansfor yieldingly holding said element against the work, stitch-forminginstrumentalities comprising a needle and a shuttle situated beneath thework support, and means to give said stitch-forming instrumentalities avibratory movement as a unitary structure relative to the work support.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bending groove, of a bender element yieldingly held against thework and operating to bend the latter into the groove, meanscooperatingwith the bender element to feed the work through the groove,stitch-forming instrumentalities situated beneath the work support andcomprising a needle and a shuttle, a carrier in which saidinstrumentalities are mounted, means to operate said instrumentalities,and means to vibrate the carrier in timed relation with the movement ofsaid instrumentalities.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bending groove, of means to feed the work through said groove, apivoted carrier situated beneath the work support, a needle and ashuttle sustained by said carrier, a. driving shaft, means operativelyconnecting said shaft with said needle and shuttle, and means operatedby said shaft to raise and lower the carrier.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work support having awork-bending groove, of means to feed the work through said groove, acarrier pivoted to the work support, a needle and a shuttle sustained bysaid carrier, a driving shaft, means operatively connecting said shaftwith said needle and shuttle, a pivotally-mounted elbow lever connectedto the frame, and a connection between said lever and shaft whereby thecarrier is raised and lowered in timed relation with the operation ofthe needle.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES F. CLARK. ALFRED S. CLARK. Witnesses:

SAMUEL H. STONE, L. STANFORD WILSON.

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' Washington, D. G.

